The other day I was driving south on Evergreen Way heading somewhere when I saw a beacon in the dark winter night. I was transfixed and pulled a Jersey Insertion* right into the parking lot, screeched to a halt and threw my truck into park. I gleefully jumped out and had totally forgotten where my original destination was supposed to be — it was as if I had been called by the Greek God Dionysus to The Grape & Grain. 

The Grape & Grain is Everett’s newest wine and beer shop located at 6502 Evergreen Way. Locally owned and operated by Erik & Krista Brown, this wine & beer shop opened at the end of December 2020. About a year ago Erik was diagnosed with some scary and life-threatening tumor which he overcame and now has a clean bill or health. 

Then Covid happened and he was laid off from his job as the Director of Beverage Operations for a cruise ship company. That left Erik and Krista to evaluate and take stock of what direction they wanted to move in. What had proved to be a very difficult year for the Browns, culminated in a YOLO opportunity for them. With well over 20 years in the beverage industry and as a proud member of the Guild of Sommeliers and a Certified Cicerone, Erik’s knowledge of wine and beer is exemplary so it only seemed natural for them to open their own wine and beer retail store. 

Their shop is so welcoming and the team is extremely knowledgeable. No matter what brings you in, whether you're looking for beer for a barbecue or a perfect Friday night bottle of wine to go with a pizza, to that special bottle of something to celebrate one of life’s milestones, they have you covered. To those cork dorks (myself included) who are in search of something that you just can’t find elsewhere in town, The Grape & Grain will do their very best to help get it for you. I recommend you go into The Grape & Grain with no agenda, no timeframe, and no expectations and you'll be sure to leave with something delicious.

As for the beer, they have a wildly diverse selection that focuses on many different styles from all over, from east coast to west coast and from sours, to Belgians, porters, stouts and the NW beloved IPAs they’ve got it all. Check out their current list of available beers.

What’s next for the Grape & Grain? Erik is filled with so many ideas. They do have a Crowler filling station and currently they can fill those cans to go for you. When summer comes they plan to host educational tastings on various styles of wines and beers on their patio outside. When this darn Covid virus is in the rearview they will also have some available high-top table seating inside the store. 

* Jersey Insertion is a New Jersey driving move that requires no skill, a bit of luck and a lot of moxie. It is best defined as being in the left lane of traffic (preferably the fast lane of a freeway) and without the use of one’s blinkers, or bothering to check one’s blind spot, the driver just goes for the exit or turn at the last minute possible, cutting across all lanes of traffic to head in the direction of travel that they need.

The Grape & Grain
6502 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98203
(425) 374-2719

Brooks Smothers is a beer geek, a cork dork and co-owner of Upper Left Records. He can be found wandering in and out of taprooms, breweries and cideries around Everett.